{"id":1385,"date":"2021-06-27T13:44:03","date_gmt":"2021-06-27T13:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/?p=1385"},"modified":"2021-12-05T07:05:49","modified_gmt":"2021-12-05T07:05:49","slug":"decoding-the-covid-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drshellysingh.com\/blog\/decoding-the-covid-vaccine\/","title":{"rendered":"Decoding the COVID Vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Currently, as we all know there are three vaccines available for use in India- COVISHIELD,\u00a0 COVAXIN and SPUTNIK.<\/span><\/p>

We began vaccinating our large population from January 16th this year and 6 months into the vaccine we are reasonably sure of their efficacy in preventing serious disease. The vaccine has been rolled out in phases and now includes the 18 + population including breastfeeding and new moms. <\/span>It also gets the nod from ICMR for pregnant girls from the 25 th of June; in the latest development, we have also been given the go-ahead signal from the MOHFW, Government of India<\/b>, as I write today.<\/span><\/p>

LET\u2019S TALK ABOUT THE VACCINES<\/b><\/p>

Covaxin<\/strong> is indigenously developed in India; manufactured by the Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and the National Institute of Virology. It is an inactivated viral vaccine containing the whole virion inactivated virus which can\u2019t infect a person but which prods the immune system to form antibodies against it.<\/span><\/p>

Covishield<\/strong> is a vaccine developed by the Oxford Astra Zeneca and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. This has been prepared using viral vector technology. A chimpanzee adenovirus-ChAdOx1 has been used to carry the spike protein of the virus into human cells. This again does not infect the person getting the vaccine but mounts an antibody response. Vectors are \u201cvehicles\u201d which carry this genetic material inside the cells.<\/span><\/p>

Sputnik V<\/strong> is the Russian developed vaccine made by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology which will be manufactured by Dr. Reddy\u2019s laboratories. This uses the human adenovirus 26 and 5 to act as vectors for the Coronavirus spike protein.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Doses and timing of these<\/b><\/p>

Both Covaxin and Covishield are given in 2 doses. 0.5 ml is administered intramuscularly into the deltoid muscle. Covaxin is given at an interval of 4-6 weeks apart and Covishield is prescribed at an interval of 12-16 weeks.<\/span><\/p>

Sputnik vaccine is a double dose vaccine, also administered as an intramuscular dose. The interval between both doses is likely to be 21 days.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Even if one has had COVID, the vaccine must still be taken, however, delay the jab to 3 months after recovery from the disease.<\/span><\/p>

If one gets COVID after the first dose of vaccine, it is recommended that one gets the second dose at the scheduled date provided one has no symptoms and the quarantine period is over.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Efficacy<\/b><\/p>

The efficacy of Covaxin is around 81% in phase 3 trials whereas that of Covishield is around 90% . The efficacy of the Sputnik vaccine is 91.6 % as per global studies.<\/span><\/p>

The chances of getting the disease after 2 doses of Covaxin are 0.4% and of Covishield are 0.3%<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Side Effects<\/b><\/p>

Pain at the site of injection, fever, headache, joint pain and weakness are common side effects of the vaccine which generally go away after 1-3 days. Rashes, nausea and vomiting are some other side effects.<\/span><\/p>

Some serious side effects may be allergic reactions, breathing difficulties, palpitations, throat and face swelling but these are rare.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Some myths that need busting<\/b><\/p>